The few minutes Hollister had been gone were some of the longest of Chee’s life. He had watched from the shooting portal at the window until Hollister had disappeared in the darkness. The women and children were quiet. He could tell none of them believed the major was coming back, but he was glad for the silence. Even Rebecca was quiet. Billy’s mother had apparently cried herself out, perhaps coming to the realization that her boy was most likely dead.
A few minutes later, gunshots sounded and his hopes rallied. Then came a few more shots a short while later and he wondered if Hollister had been overwhelmed. Not long after that, came a faint howling sound he didn’t recognize. Not a Coyote or a dog. He had no idea what it meant, but it meant something. He hoped it wasn’t an indication that the major was dead.
It would be up to him to keep these people safe, and he wondered if they could survive the night.
The young woman named Sally was suddenly at his elbow, the heavy Colt still in her small hand.
“Do you think he’s still alive?” she asked quietly.
“I don’t know,” he said. Chee was uncomfortable conversing with people. With soldiers and the major, he had no problem, but white people, even whores, generally made him nervous.
“I think he’s alive,” she said. “He seems like a smart fella.”
Chee understood the young woman had gone sweet on Hollister in the few short hours they had been here in the jail.
He kept his eyes on the outside and straightened a little when he noticed several Archaics moving into the street fifty yards down from the jail. They moved slowly toward the intersection and in the moonlight it was difficult to tell what was going on.
But he was sure this meant the major was still alive. Otherwise they would be gathering to attack the jail, not heading in the other direction. A few moments later, he heard more gunshots.
Hollister was alive.
He strained to watch the activity in the street, trying to figure out what was happening. Instinct told him something was about to go down. He looked at Sally.
“Miss, I’m going to need your help,” he said.
She looked at him, her eyes going wide as if she could read his mind.
“I’m going to go out there and help the major,” he said. “You need to take my spot here and keep watch on the street out there. You’ll need to bar the door after I leave, and let us in when we come back.”
“I can’t do that,” Sally said, shaking her head.
“Yes, you can,” he said quietly. He tried to think of something that would make her believe she could do what he asked. “The major, he believed in you.”
Sally swallowed hard.
“But I thought he told you to stay here with us,” she said, the fear starting to creep into her voice.
“He did. But he’s in trouble. And if we’re going to have a chance, we need to help him. He’s counting on us. He’s counting on you. Can you do it?”
Sally looked down at the floor. Outside there was another gunshot, then another-then the Archaics in the street started running and jumping like a herd of frightened antelope.
“It’s now or never, Sally,” he said gently.
“All right, I can do it,” she said.
Chee went to the door and quickly lifted the beam, looking at the remaining women. “Sally is in charge,” he said. “If anyone gives her trouble, I will shoot them.”
He stepped through the door, waiting until he heard Sally lower the beam back in place.
Working the action on the big Henry rifle, he ran into the street.